Skirt and trouser rack



Aprll 5, 1949. w. E. ANDERSON ET AL SKIRT AND TROUSER RACK Filed Nov. 26, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

A Mmm/.EY

Patented Apr. 5, 1949 OFFICE 2,466,195 SKIRT AND TRoUsER RACK Walter E. Anderson and Elmer A. Anderson,

ago, Ill.

Application November 26, 1945, Serial No. 630,819

l Chic The invention relates to improvements in racks and more particularly to skirt and trouserfracks embodying novel features of construction and consisting primarily of a pair of identical members independently mounted in close association one with the other to cooperate jointly for the purpose intended.

The best known manner for hanging garments, such as trousers or skirts, is tol engage the trouser cuffs or skirt waistband in suitable hangers in such fashion that the trouser or skirt is suspended in a manner so as lnot to become creased or wrinkled. y

Conventional types of racks particularly constructed for use as suspension means for trousers, skirts or like garments frequently are constructed vof one piece and, consequently, adjustment of the relative spacing between the garment engaging elements constituting an essential part thereof is impossible. As a result of such constructions the use of racks of that character is restricted to garments of predetermined sizes because should the trouser cuffs or skirt waistband be of insuycient length to bridge the gap between the garvment engaging elements, they cannot be suspended therefrom in the manner intended. Likewise, should the trouser cuffs or skirt waistband be of a length greater than the spacing between the engaging elements, the projecting ends thereof sag with the consequent result in the garment becoming wrinkled or otherwise distorted to such an extent as to require pressingbefore use. It is, therefore, an object of the present inven# tion to provide a rack of the character referred to which is easily adapted to accommodate garments of any predetermined size.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simplicity of its assembly, the novel low cost construction, and the high degree of effectiveness 0f the clamping elements thereon.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows preferred embodiments and the principle'thereof and which are considered to be the best modes contemplated for applying that principle. Other embodiments vof the invention embodyingthe same or equivalent principle may be used'and structural `changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawing: f l Y one of said. elements is Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the improved rack mounted for use.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of one of the arms thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional detail view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is la side elevational view of one of a pair of arms constituting a modied form of rack construction.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing, the improved rack consists of a pair of like rack arms, generally indicated at II, which are arranged in parallel relationship one to the other so as to cooperate for retaining a pair of trousers or skirts or like garments suspended therefrom. Inasmuch as the construction of each of the arms II is identical, the description hereinafter will concern" itself with the specific details of but one of said arms, it being understood that the description is applicable to the construction of the companion arm.

The rack arm II includes an elongated inverted channel I2, preferably fashioned from sheet material such as, for example, steel, having its side walls I 3 gradually increasing in width as one end of the arm is approached so as to provide a relatively wide bearing surface at said end to abut a supporting surface I4 upon which the arm is secured. The arm may be secured to such supporting surface las by means of conventional wood screws (not shown) or the like, which are extended through screw openings l5 provided in outwardly turned flanges I6 formed integral with the wide ends of the side walls I3.

A plurality of garment engaging and clamping elements Il are secured to and depend from the channel I2. As best shown in Fig. 2, these clamping elements may be fashioned from strips of resilient sheet material, such as spring steel or the like, and each is formed substantially U-shaped to define an intermediate portion I8 and depending leg portions I9 and 2| The intermediate portion I8 is suitably apertured to receive therethrough a rivet 22 to rmly secure the clamping element to the top wall 23 of the channel I2. The clamping elements Il are arranged, as shown, in side by side relationship along the length of the channel I2 and they are suitably spaced apart such distances as to locate one of their leg portions in yieldable abutment with one of the arms with the adjacent clamping element. Thus, it will be seen that when the clamping elements are mounted inplace the leg portion Y I9 of in tight abutment with similarly, an auxiliary leg portion ISa is prne vided on the channel I'2 inwardly of the innermost clamping element II to coactwitl th'eleg portion 2I of said element. Each.of..the auxiliary; leg portions ISa and 2Ia preferably is secured to the channel I2 by, means of the rivets 22; the instant disclosure showing' an-extensiorr 24 on each of said auxiliary arms whichlies flat?.V

against the inside face` of the channel top wall 2li-beneath.. the intermediate portionsl of the two adjacent clamping elements.. I'I'Z Easy insertion of a garment, suchastliecuis of a pair of trousers or the waistbandora skirt, between companion leg portions I9 and' ZI- is facilitated by extending. the free end 25. ofjeach leg .portion2I and` 2Ia at an angle, as illustrated, and the freeend of each. ofjthelegportins I9 is similarly bent out of the plane thereof. asat 26. Itvshould be apparent that. after a garment has beenv inserted between companionv leg ,portions I'9 and 2'I, itis held' mly therein diie to the inherent resiliency of saidA leg. portions and that it may be withdrawn easily andV quickly upon being pulled downwardly therefrom.

Obviously, were the clamping elements provided upon a construction which wouldnotpermit' selective variation of.` the spacing between the rack arms II, it would be impossible to properlyv engagethe trouser cuis or skirt waistband' in such a manner asto insure correct suspension thereof. However, due to the .separate construction of the two rackarms II; said`arms maybe located at any selected spacing dictated by the individual requirements of'the user.

AA modified form of construction is illustrated inrFig; 4, wherein the'rack'arm Ila, constituting one of a pair ofk like arms, is'formedJoi a` single piece" of material, such as by the molding of plastics or the like; and each arm includes depending companion leg 'portions |91) and.2 Ib corresponding generallyA in size and shape' to the leg portions I9 and 2l described hereinabove. Each of the leg portions |912` andlbisiresilient and is of such'cross-sectionalarea as to. permit them to yield suniciently to admit' a garment therebetween so that the lattermay be firmly clamped therein and suspended therefrom:

Although preferredv embodiments of the" invention have been disclosed inthe accompanying drawing and described indetail'in'the'jforegoing specification, it should be understood that the invention is capable'orf embodying a; wide variety of modificationswithout departing from the spirit of the inventionv or the scope' o'the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A rack comprising incombination a pair of spaced parallel arms, each of said" arms being substantially channel shaped'iny cross-section, a.

plurality of inverted substantially-V U-shaped resilient clamping elements rigidlysecured'to. said arms with the legs thereof depending therefrom and diverging outwardly; the terminal portions of said legs being4 bent inwardly out' ofi` their planes, said clamping elements being' uniformly 4 spaced apart longitudinally of said arms whereby the leg of one clamping element abuts the leg of an adjoining clamping element and coacts therewith to provide tensioned means for receiving and retaining therebetween an article to be supported.

2. A rack comprising in combination a pair of spaced,V parallel arms, each. of.. said` arms being substantially f channel shaped .inn cross-section, a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped resilient clamping elements rigidly secured to the said arms with the legs thereof depending therefrom andf'diverging outwardly, one of the legs of each :elementbeing substantially longer than the other, the terminal portions of said legs being bent inwardly out of their planes, said clamping elements-L beingV uniformly spaced apart longitudinally of said arms whereby the shorter leg of one of the elements abuts the longer leg of an adjoining, element and. coacts. therewith. to provide tensionedmeans for receivingA and; retaining. therebetween anarticle to be supported, the longer.. leg servingas a means for guiding the said' article between abutting legs to facilitate reception therebetween.

3. A- rackarm comprising a' channel member, a plurality of invertedsubstantially"U-shaped;re silient' clampingelements rigidly secured: tosaid memberV with their legs depending therefrom and diverging outwardly; the' terminalv portions of said legsbeing bent inwardly outoftheir planes, said clamping elements being-urnfcrmlyfspaced apart longitudinally of said armswhereb'yA the legof one clamping.' element abuts thev legjo* an adjoining clamping' element and coacts" there'- with to provideI tensionedI means for' receiving and= retaining therebetween an article to' be supported.

4'.- A rack armcomprising a'rchannel'member, a plurality of inverted` substantiallyl U-shaped resilientf clamping* elements rigidly secured" to said? member with'- theirrlegsdepending there'. from-andfdiverging outwardly,one of the legs of `each elementE being-1 substantially'- longer' than the other; the terminal portions of'said -legsbeing bent inwardly out of their planes; said 1 clamping elementsf being uniformly spacedV apart longitudinally of: said aarmswhereby the shorter leg-'of one off thef elements; abuts the longer legoffY an adjoining; element. and co-acts--therewith lto provide: .tensioned:means forl receivingland Eretaining therebetween an.. article to be supported, the longer leg serving as a means for guiding the said article." between.. abutting: legs to facilitate reception therebetween:

RE*minimalist` crrnn The' following references arel ofl record-irlIJ the le ofthis patent:

v l UNITED STATES PATENTS.

. Number: 

